Three Days And No Verdict

December 16, 2003|By LYNNE TUOHY; Courant Staff Writer

WATERBURY — The jury deliberating whether convicted killer Robert Courchesne should be sentenced to death finished its third day of deliberations without a verdict Monday, and is scheduled to continue today.

The jury of six men and six women asked only for a dictionary and a break, marking the first day they have not requested to have testimony read back. Superior Court Judge Frank D'Addabbo Jr. denied their request for a dictionary, saying they should look to the common meaning of whatever word it is they sought to define.

With the start of their days delayed by legal or weather issues, by Monday's end the jurors had spent six hours over three days actually debating the case. The balance of their time has been spent in the courtroom hearing testimony.

Courchesne was convicted of stabbing to death Demetris Rodgers, 28, in September 1998, and causing the death of her infant daughter, Antonia. The baby was surgically delivered after Rodgers was pronounced dead, but died 42 days later from complications due to oxygen deprivation. Courchesne faces the death penalty for multiple murder.